Skip to content
Stork.AIstork.ai
AI Tool

iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi Review

iMessage Hermes is an AI agent that operates on a Raspberry Pi, allowing users to interact with it via iMessage and SMS.

shipped Jul 27, 2026aifreemium
aiagentsproductivity
iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi — product screenshot

Why it matters

1Hermes Agent is an open-source, self-improving AI agent developed by Nous Research.
2The setup runs on a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5, costing approximately $80 for the board.
3Version 0.19.0, 'The Quicksilver Release', improved response speed by 80%, achieving 0.9-second response times.
4It supports iMessage, SMS, Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, and email for interaction.

About iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi

Business Model
Subscription SaaS
Headquarters
Not specified
Founded
2026
Team Size
Not specified
Funding
Not specified
Platforms
Raspberry Pi
Target Audience
Individuals looking to automate tasks via iMessage using an AI agent on Raspberry Pi.

Pricing Plans

Free Tier
Free
  • • Install Hermes on Raspberry Pi
  • • Access to iMessage channel
  • • Use Plow Chat API

Leadership

Not specifiedNot specified

Specs

API Available

Yes, public API

Screenshots

overview

What is iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi?

iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi is a personal AI agent tool developed by Nous Research that enables individuals to interact with a self-improving AI via iMessage or SMS. This setup leverages a low-power Raspberry Pi device to host the Hermes agent, providing an always-on, local AI assistant accessible from anywhere. The agent handles orchestration, tools, memory, and messaging gateway functions, while large language model (LLM) inference is offloaded to remote cloud providers. Hermes is designed to learn and improve over time, creating and refining skills based on user interactions and experience.

features

Key Features of iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi

iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi integrates several core functionalities to provide a persistent and adaptable AI assistant. Its architecture allows for local operation on a Raspberry Pi while leveraging external LLM services for computational tasks. The agent's design emphasizes continuous improvement and user accessibility through various messaging platforms.

  • Open-source, self-improving AI agent built by Nous Research.
  • Built-in learning loop: creates skills from experience, improves them during use, and remembers users across sessions.
  • Integration with iMessage and SMS via a dedicated phone number provided by Plow Chat API.
  • Asynchronous sub-agents allowing background task execution.
  • Automation blueprints and intelligent approvals for complex workflows.
  • Image editing capabilities and stronger agent profiles.
  • Live monitoring of sub-agents and enhanced security features.
  • 80% gain in response speed, achieving 0.9-second response times as of Version 0.19.0.
  • Connectivity to password managers for secure operations.

use cases

Who Should Use iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi?

iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi is designed for individuals and small teams seeking a customizable, always-on AI assistant for a variety of tasks. Its open-source nature and self-improvement capabilities make it suitable for users who value control and continuous learning in their AI tools.

  • AI Researchers & Python Developers: Individuals who desire a personal agent that generates training data, prefer Python over TypeScript/Node ecosystems, or are exploring reinforcement learning for agentic tasks.
  • Self-Hosters & Automation Enthusiasts: Users who need multiple sandbox backends, prefer running services on inexpensive hardware like a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5, and want to build custom applications and workflows.
  • Individuals for Personal & Family Management: Users needing assistance with creating family calendars, managing appointments, providing daily reminders, or acting as a recipe helper.
  • Professionals for Productivity & Automation: Teams or individuals requiring help with code review, Q&A, inbox triage, apartment scouting, logging payments to spreadsheets, or generating content like LinkedIn infographics.
  • Researchers for Information Retrieval: Users interested in distilling information, organizing Reddit posts by specific criteria, or receiving daily research emails.

how to use

How to Use iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi

To use iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi, users typically begin by setting up the Raspberry Pi device and then installing the Hermes Agent software. The integration with iMessage requires configuring the Plow Chat API to provide a dedicated phone number for the AI agent.

  • 1Acquire a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 and necessary peripherals.
  • 2Install a compatible operating system (e.g., Raspberry Pi OS) on the device.
  • 3Download and install the open-source Hermes Agent software, often via a single prompt.
  • 4Configure the Plow Chat API to obtain a real phone number for the AI agent.
  • 5Integrate the Hermes Agent with the Plow Chat API to enable iMessage and SMS interaction.
  • 6Begin interacting with the Hermes Agent via iMessage or SMS, allowing it to learn and improve over time.

pricing

iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi Pricing & Plans

The Hermes Agent software itself is distributed under the MIT license, making it free and open-source for users to run. The overall pricing model is freemium, as while the core agent is free, associated services like the Plow Chat API for a dedicated phone number may incur costs. Users are responsible for the cost of the Raspberry Pi hardware (approximately $80 for the board) and any cloud-based LLM inference services they choose to utilize.

  • Free Tier: Free (includes the open-source Hermes Agent software)

Pros

  • +Open-source and free to run under the MIT license, offering cost-effective AI agent deployment.
  • +Self-improving AI agent with a built-in learning loop, creating and refining skills over time.
  • +Always-on functionality when deployed on a Raspberry Pi, providing continuous accessibility.
  • +Extensive cross-channel support including iMessage, SMS, Telegram, Discord, and WhatsApp.
  • +High performance with recent updates, achieving 0.9-second response times as of Version 0.19.0.
  • +Provides a foundation for deep customization, allowing users to build specific applications and workflows.

Cons

  • −Initial setup can be complex and confusing for users unfamiliar with AI agent configuration or Raspberry Pi devices.
  • −Relies on external cloud providers for heavy LLM inference, potentially incurring additional costs.
  • −While self-improving, practical experience suggests it excels more with triggered actions and scheduled tasks rather than fully autonomous 'loop engineering' without human oversight.
  • −Requires a Raspberry Pi device and potentially other hardware, adding to the initial investment.
Visit iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi↗
Connect
💬
Discorddiscord.gg/5nFjWeneVN